Bedside table



April 21, 1931. G. G. ULMl ER, JR

BEDS IDE TABLE Filed- Dec. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE 6. ULMEFflJR BMZ Q MM "f'ET I N VEN TOR ATTORNEYS Api fl 21, 1931- G. G; ULMER, JR

BEDS I DE TABLE Filed Dec. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 65099: 6. ULMEfigJR.

ATTORNEYS GEORGE G. ULMER, JR., MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO PHYSICIANS AND.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOSPITALS SUPPLY COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA BEnsInn ZVTABLE Applig ation filed December 15, 1928. Serial No. 326,220.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bedside tables and is an improvement over the form shown in my pending application, Serial No. 199,541, filed June 1?, 3.921 I An object of the present invention is to provide in combination witha bedsidetable or a suitable support, a frame adapted to swing upon a substantially vertical axis and off-set therefrom whereby it may be positioned over a be and a tray being mounted thereon and adapted to be tilted to an inclined position to provide a support for an open book, ma azine or newspaper.

A further ob ect of the invention is to pro-- with the swinging frame; the manner in which the tray is pivotally connected with the frame; the means rovided for retaining the tray in adjusted inclined positions; the means provided for retaining the frame and tray in vertically adjusted positions; and, in the general construction and organization of the parts, as a whole.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming pm of this specification:

- Figure 1 is a view showing a front elevazion of a bedside table embodying my invenion;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, showing the tray moved to a position to one side of the table;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the tray, partially broken away;

Figure 4 is a detailsectional view on the line 4 4-of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the tray tilted;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional'view on the line 88 of "Figure 9; and

Figure 9 is a detail view showing the pivotal connection between the tray and frame.

In- '-the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated, for purposes of disclosure, a bedside table comprising a cabinet 2 mounted upon suitable castors 3 and having a top plate 4, beneath which a storage chamber 5 is provided. The cabinet here shown has a drawer 6 beneath the chamber 5, and a door 7 providing a closure for the compartment in the lower portion of the cabinet.

A tubular support 8 is secured to the cabinet 2, preferably as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is adapted to receive a supporting arm 9, having an off-set portion 11 to which a frame 12 is secured. This frame is preferably rectangular in form as best shown in Figure 3. The arm 9 is rotatably mounted in the support 8 and has a collar 13 adjustably secured thereto by means of a thumb screw 14. This collar and thumb screw function to retain the arm 9 in vertically adjusted positions, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figure 1. A thumb screw 15 is also located in the upper portion of the tubular support 8 to provide means for locking the arm 9 in adjusted positions, that is, to prevent relativerotation thereof.

A feature of this invention resides in the construction of the tray 16 supported upon the rectangular frame 12. This tray is preferably constructed of sheet material and is formed with a depending flange 17 which, when the tray is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, substantially conceals the frame 12. An upstanding flange 18 is provided at one edge of the tray, as shown in the drawings, adapted to cooperate with the tray to provide a'bookrack, when the tray is tilted to an inclined position as shown in Figure 5.

The lower edge of the flange 18 preferably extends below the corresponding edges of the flanges 17, and it also projects beyond the opposed sides of the tray as shown in Fig ure 2, so that when the tray is concealed within the compartment 5, the flange 18 will provide a closure for the compartment at the front of the table.

To permit adjustment of the tray, as shown in Figure 5, one side thereof is pivotally connected with the frame 12 by means of suitable studs 19, preferably received in threaded engagement with the frame 12, as shown in Figure 8. These studs are received in curved slots 21, provided in the depending side flanges 17 of the tray, as shown in Figures 6 and 9. The slots 21 are so formed that the top wall of the tray will rest upon the frame 12, when the tray is in normal horizontal position, as shown in Figure 4. When the tray is tilted to an inclined position, the corner 22 at the front portion of the tray will engage the frame 12 and act as a fulcrum about which the tray swings. The studs and slots 19 and 21, respectively, merely function to prevent the tray from becoming detached from the frame 12.

The means provided for adj ustably retaining the tray in an inclined position is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and comprises a member 23, preferably U-shaped in form, having legs 24 pivotally connected to the bottom of the top wall of the tray, by means of suitable lugs 25. The lower edge of each leg 24 has a lurality of notches 26, adapted to engage a bar or rod 27, having its ends suitably secured to the side members of the frame 12. The notched bars or legs 2a and the rod 27 are so related that when the tray 16 is adjusted or tilted to an inclined position, the notches 26 will engage the rod 27 and retain the tray in adjusted position, as shown in Figure 5.

The novel device featured in this invention has been found particularly useful in hospitals and sick rooms to provide means for supporting an open book, a magazine, newspaper, or other similar article, in a suitable position over a bed so that a patient may readily and conveniently note the contents thereof without exertion, the notched bars 24 and rod 27 providing means for retaining the tray in any desired position. When the tray is not used as a hookrack, it is retained in its normal horizontal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and it may then be used as a tray to support food articles in position over a bed for the convenience of the patient. When not in use, the tray 16 and frame 12 may be concealed within the chamber 5.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a bedside table, of a frame pivotally supported thereon, a tray mounted upon said frame and adapted to be tilted to an inclined position, a depending flange on said tray adapted to encircle and conceal saidframe, and an upstanding flange on one side of said tray cooperating therewith to provide a support for a book or other article when said tray is tilted to an inclined position upon said frame.

2. The combination with a bedside table, of aframe, a supporting arm adapted to adjustably support said frame, a tray supported upon the frame and having one side movably connected therewith whereby the tray may be tilted to an inclined position thereon, and a notched bar secured to the tray and adapted to engage said frame and retain the tray in an adjusted angular position.

3. The combination with a bedside table having a storage chamber in the upper portion thereof, of a rectangular frame adapted to be concealed in said chamber, a supporting arm for said frame having a pivotal connec tion with the table, a tray supported upon said frame and having one side pivotally connected therewith whereby it may be tilted to an inclined position thereon, and a notched member pivotally connected with said tray adapted to engage said frame to retain the tray in adjusted angular position, said notched member being adapted to be nested together with said frame and tray to permit said parts to he received in said storage chamber, when not in use.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an open frame provided with a suitable support, a plate supported upon said frame and provided with a depending flange having elongated arcuately shaped apertures therein, pins secured to said frame and received in said apertures whereby said plate may be tilted to an inclined position upon said frame, and a rack bar engageable with said frame to retain said late in an adjusted inclined position.

In witness whereof, I have hand this 5th day of c c 

